【10G10Hawk】小组8月13日任务——Argument162

谦行天下UID: 2797557

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.

互改顺序（后改前）：
13-6-9-15-1

austen06UID: 2841836

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 504          TIME: 00:29:20          DATE: 2010-8-13 9:38:23
In this argument, the author concludes that North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis in order to prevent fatigue and depression. To substantiate his conclusion, the author cites the result of a study showing that North American people suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living in Asia who eat 20 grams of soy per day. The author also points out that isoflavones, phytochemicals contained in the soy, can help prevent diseases. However, this argument suffers from several logical fallacies which render it unconvincing as it stands.
To begin with, the author unfairly assumes that the disparity between the occurance of fatigue and chronic depression is due to the fact that Asian people eat 20 grams of soy per day, while the American people do not. Yet this might not necessarily be the case. There are many other explanations for this disparity. Perhaps the life pace in North America is much faster than in Asia, and people are constantly exposed in high tension. Or perhaps, the Americans engage in more mental and physical activities which render them suffer from chronic fatigue and depression more often than the Asian people. Without considering and eliminating these factors, the author could not conclude safely that soy beans can prevent fatigue and depression.
Next, granted that soy beans do have a effect in combating fatigue and depression on Asian people, the author ignores the difference between the people in North America and Asia that might help bring about a different result for North American people if they eat soys regularly. It is entirely possible that soys are not able to prevent fatigue and depression among the North American people because their genetic propertis  and dietary stucture are quite different from those of the Asians. Unless the author can provide direct evidence on the effectiveness of soy in preventing fatigue and depression among the North American people, the author's suggestion is dubious at best.
Furthermore, the fact that isoflavones in the soy can prevent diseases lends no support to the author's suggestion that soy can prevent fatigue and depression. Common sense and experience has informed me that diseases embrace a large amount of categories including depression, without further information about what kinds of diseases it can prevent, the author could not conclude on this evidence that it can prevent depression, let alone fatigue.
Finally yet importantly, the author ignores other possible measures that might serve to prevent fatigue and depression much more effectively than eating soy. Perhaps they can slow down their life pace a little bit or take some days off to rest, or simply going to see the doctors.
To sum up, the author's suggestion is unpersuasive. In order to bolster this suggestion, the author must provide enough evidence to show that it is the consumption of soy bean that responsible for the low incident occurance rate among the people in Asians and it is equally effective on the people in North America. Also the function of isoflavones should be further eliminated.

austen06UID: 2841836

2

谦行天下UID: 2797557

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 475
TIME: 00:38:10
DATE: 2010/8/13 16:09:51

This argument is poorly supported. Based on an unreliable survey, the author point out that Asian are less frequently suffered from chronic fatigue and depression than people living in the North American. Then the author wrongly ascribe the causal of this phenomenon to Asian's habit of eating soy and suggests the North Americans to imitate Asian's eating habit to prevent body discomfort.


Firstly, the survey about the symptoms of chronic fatigue and chronic depression cited in this argument is unbelievable. The symptoms are hardly measured according to same standards. Do they have a clear definition of chronic fatigue and chronic depression? Since these symptoms vary individually, the result may lie behind the truth because the conductors use different standards to do the investigation or even there are no standards established. Moreover, the author doesn't mention about how the survey is conducted and how the respondents are chosen which hinges on the truthiness of the survey. The process of conduction must not add any other factors that will influence the result and respondents should be chosen randomly. The size of respondents needs to be large enough so that the result can be close to reality. Hence, the background information about this survey needs to be provided to bolster the argument.

Secondly, the author fails to establish the causal relationship between eating soy and relieving of the stated symptoms. What we know from this argument is that soy has a special constitute that have disease-preventing properties, but there are no addition information that this special constitute can help release chronic fatigue and depression. Maybe this phytochemicals do not have any effect on fatigue and depression at all, and it relieves other symptoms. Or maybe it can not cure disease but only have the function of prevention. In that case, eating soy cannot result in people recovery from the stated symptoms in this argument.

In addition, the author ignores other factors that might explain a much higher percentage in North America suffers from chronic fatigue and chronic depression. The human species in North America and Asia is different and maybe the human species in North America is more easily suffered from chronic fatigue and chronic depression. The climate which also shows different patterns in these two continents contributes to the claimed symptoms. Maybe the life style and living habit result in depression. More likely people in North America work longer and have more pressure than Asian. Without ruling out these possibilities, ascribing the discomfort to eating habit is unconvincing.

As discussed above, this argument is unwarranted. To substantiate the conclusion of this argument, the background of the survey need to be provided, the causal relationship between eating soy and less suffering from the stated symptoms in Asia should established, and the other factors contribute to the chronic fatigue and chronic depression in North America need to be analyzed.

谦行天下UID: 2797557

22222222222222

czlilacUID: 2842584

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 459
TIME: 00:29:31
DATE: 2010-8-13 15:45:49

Based on a recent study that indicates the continent of North American residents suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than the continent of Asian residents, and the Asians eat soy while North Americans never eat it, it seems plausible for the author to establish the causality between eating soy and chronic diseases. However, several unpersuasive respects are revealed in the argument by further scrutiny as follow.

The most conspicuous flaw is that we are not given any strong and sufficient scientific statistic about the efficacy of the isoflavones. It is entirely possible that it is just a common matter and does no contribution to prevent any diseases at first glance. Unless any effective evidences are provided, we will not be convinced by the author conclusion that soy will contribute to preventing fatigue and depression.

Furthermore, the author fails to consider the differences between these two districts. The differences include the live style, eating habits and the pressure of work, as well as the climate conditions. It is common knowledge that the North Americans usually face much higher work pressure than the Asians, it is completely that the higher chronic diseases of North Americans are ascribed to the work pressure, while have nothing to do with never eating soy. In addition, the living style and pace of the North Americans and the Asians are extremely different. Perhaps, the high ratio of fatigue and depression between North Americans is due to their sleep time are less than Asians. It is, therefore, the author should rule out these possibilities before giving out the causality.

Again, whether the North Americans will like the soy is still open to doubt, because the taste are very important. In addition, the physical difference and the genetic factors of North Americans and Asians are not taken into account. It is possible the fatigue and depression are caused by heredity, rather than the without eating soy, or the most of the North Americans are higher and heavier than Asians, and maybe the fatigue result from consuming much energy.

Finally, even if the presented premises are founded, it still can’t guarantee that the soy will help to prevent North Americans from fatigue and depression. As result of the author does not give us any effective evidences to substantiate the conclusion, chance is that the soy is just appropriate to Asians while plays none role to North Americans. Before the author demonstrating that the soy will be conducive to North Americans, I can’t be convinced.

To sum up, the argument suffers from many drawbacks presented above. To convince me, more information should be provided, such as the efficacy of the isoflavones, and the physical difference between North Americans and Asians, as well as the true reason for North American fatigue and depression.

czlilacUID: 2842584

2

hwslqcUID: 2861597

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 535          TIME: 00:30:00          DATE: 2010-8-13 16:28:20

The notion that North American(NA) should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression. After all, this notion relies on the fact that NA, who eat almost none soy each day, suffer more chronic fatigue and chronic depression than Asians, who eat 20grams of soy per day and the found of isoflavones in soy. However, close scrutiny of these evidences reveals that none of them can lend to credible support to the final conclusion. The reasons are stated as below.

First of all, the arguer cannot build causal relationship between chronic fatigue, chronic depression and soy unless he or she can give more convincing evidences about this relationship. As we know, chronic depression and fatigue can be caused by many reasons, it is highly possible that it the life style or the culture caused both the difference of chronic fatigue and depression and the difference of the eating habits towards soy. For instance, Asians like to eat soy or they use soy as main food while they do more physic work or they are more optimism caused by their culture; NA like to eat more meat in their daily life while they have to live under big stress and have less time to relax than Asians. If the arguer cannot ruling out the possibilities I mentioned above, he or she cannot claim that the causal relationship between these two phenomena.

On the other hand, the arguer cannot draw the conclusion that soy can less the chronic and depression from the fact that soy contain s phytochemicals called isoflavones. Even isoflavones has found to possess disease-preventing properties, chances are that it can only prevent so other disease, which not including the chronic fatigue and depression. Even if chronic depression and fatigue can be prevented, the arguer does not cite any evidence to show that the isoflavones in soy can be absorbed by human body. If the isoflavones has to get into the blood to benefits people, while human body cannot absorb it directly from soy, this evidence will be useless. Without evidence to keep these possibilities away, the conclusion will be undermined.

Even if those two premises are both convincing, the arguer overlooked the difference between Asians and NA. It is possible that the difference between Asians body and NA' body will lead the same movement, like eating soy to different results. And the atmosphere, the way to eat soy can also influence the result of eating soy. It is possible that NA will like to eat some fruits or vegetables which contain the elements to neutralize the isoflavones in soy. The conclusion will be groundless if the arguer cannot provide the same and difference between Asians and NA.

After pointing out so many flaws in this argument, it is obviously that the evidences provided by the arguer cannot be relied on by the conclusion. Maybe eating soy regularly can prevent fatigue and depression, the arguer has to provide more practical and professional evidences. For instance, he or she can cite the living style, habit, culture and diet of Asians and NA, the climate and water in Asia and NA and the detail function of the isoflavones in soy.

hwslqcUID: 2861597

2

PsMaggieUID: 2861847

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 535

TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2010/8/13 17:27:27

The statement that North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression seems at first glance to be an obvious conclusion. After all, it was stated in the argument that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. However, before the author can rightly make a prediction about the situation of North Americans take soy on regular, the following logical fallacies must be considered.

First of all, the author assumes that Asians were in a low level of chronic fatigue(CF) and chronic depression's happening was due to their behavior of eating 20 grams of soy per day. However, we understand the factors influencing the result of Asians' chronic something are not unique. Perhaps Asians love to exercise everyday and the regular exercises lower their CF and chronic depression(CD). Perhaps they have another foods which only popular in Asia that lower their CF and CD. Perhaps the Asians see doctors more often which as a result they could totally keep their CF and CD in a good condition. Unless the arguer can provide more convincing evidence to ruling out all the possibilities I mentioned above, the conclusion will be undermined.

Secondly, granted that soy truly makes sense in Asians, no solid evidence has given to bolster the higher CF and CD from North Americans than Asians is due to soy. There are many other possibilities such as the Asians themselves are in a better condition of CF and CD thus even if North Americans take more soy on a regular, they may not reach a better condition of CF and CD. And maybe North Americans don't like sports and don't like go to see doctors regular which probably would cause their CF and CD up to high. After all, the environment of North America is totally different from that of Asia which means the people would be totally different. So before more contrast about two living conditions of the two nations' people are provided, the author cannot rightly give any statement concerning the function of soy.

The last but not the least, even if North Americans indeed need soy to reduce their CF and CD, it can't be ignored that soy would have some side effects that we still have no ideas now. What if taking soy brings another harm which worse than suffering CF and CD? What if North Americans increase their times to go to hospitals after they eat soy? All these could take place that we couldn't predict now because the author doesn't give any information about the soy. Therefore, it is the foods' high rank executives' duty to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this movement before making a final decision.

The causal relationship between the functions of soy and people's suffering of CF and CD can sometimes be quite subtle and even misleading. However, for the reasons mentioned above, more careful considerations are necessary before a reasonable guideline could be made about the consequence of North Americans eating soy. After all, a wrong action which would lead the North Americans' health into a worse condition would be worse than no actions at all

sharonyeUID: 2862009

depression.
字数：487
用时：00:40:00
日期：2010-8-13
下午 09:29:18

In this argument, the author suggest people in North America should eat soy in order to prevent fatigue and depression. His/Her advice seems reasonable at first glance, for the study provided in the survey shows Asians who eat 20 grams of soy a day is less suffering from chronic fatigue and depression than North Americans who never eat this food. What is more, he claims phytochemicals called isoflavones which is possessing disease-proventing properties is also contained in soy. However, a more carefully look would reveal some flaws in this argument.
In the first place, there is no evidence suggesting that it is soy's contribution to Asian's less fatigue and depression. As we all known, the environment, work
type of people in the tow areas are totally different. It is possible that people in North America are most working for advanced companies and the people there are so capable that all of them can feel a sense of tense, moreover, they are all competition for promoting and higher salary that no doubt would make then fatigue and depressing. After all, North America countries are more developed than those in Asia, hence people living in there are more stressed is not an unusual thing. It is also possible that not because work pressure, but for some environmental factors that reduce Asians' depression, temperature, wind, climate change can also cause the difference in one's emotion.
Second, granted that soy has the ability for Asians to relax, it does not mean it is also applied to North Americans. The body system, life style, taste of food etc. are all not the same in the two areas. There is no information indicating how the
soy founction
to release fatigue and depression. Maybe it is just a catalyst for digesting other food only available in Asia, and what in this food is the real reason for the relaxasion.
What is more, phytochemicals contained in soy can not served as an evidence to convince us of the conclusion. After all, the author says nothing about it except it can prevent some disease, but what kind of disease it remains unknown. At the same time, fatigue and depression can not be defined strictly as disease, either. If the phytochemicals is always useful for cancer, high-blood-level or other the like, it will definitely do nothing to prevent depression.
To sum up, the author’s advice is not persuasive as it stands, before I can accept his/her conclusion, he must to provide more concrete evidence to rule out the possibility of geographical factors contributing to the difference of fatigue and depression. To better evaluate the conclusion, he/she would need to say something more about phytochemicals to let us understand how can it prevent depression.